Webster-Dudley Food Share theft was just a misunderstanding

Donna Farrow, director of the Webster/Dudley Foodshare, is hugged by volunteer Roger Forcier of Webster, who was helping out with the delivery of 100 cases of soup donated by Price Chopper on May 1. Also helping out is, at left, David O'Connor, organizer of the Webster Cash Mob, and Jim Alkire, treasurer of the Webster/Dudley Foodshare. (T&G Staff/STEVE LANAVA)

WEBSTER — A misunderstanding at the Webster-Dudley Food Share brought residents in to donate in droves, restocking the shelves after reports the facility had been burglarized.

But after a daylong police investigation, officers realized that nothing had been stolen, no one had forced their way into the basement of the United Church of Christ on Church Street and no food was missing at all.

"It was a misunderstanding," Police Chief Timothy Bent said.

He said the person staffing the food share program Tuesday was very busy, and in the course of helping those in need had knocked over some items in the room where the food is kept, and forgot to pick them up later. That worker also failed to restock the shelves for Thursday, as is the custom. So when Donna Farrow, director of the Webster-Dudley Food Share, arrived Thursday and found the place in disarray, she was sure the food pantry had been robbed. She said at the time that the thieves had taken "all the best stuff," including peanut butter and other nonperishables.

Police were called, and they spent the day reviewing surveillance video in the area, searching for clues and asking for help from the public.

"We put it on Facebook, and I think we even tweeted it that we were looking for help," Chief Bent said. What came was help for the food pantry with donations pouring in — but there were no tips in solving the crime, and police soon began talking to food share staff one at a time.

"We had everyone in here," the chief said, adding that after the interviews, police pieced together what had happened and realized there had been no theft.

The story took on a life of its own, as it was still being promoted on social media hours after police posted on Facebook that it wasn't true.

By Friday afternoon, police were asking people to stop donating because so much food had been brought in.

"We have a garage full of food," the chief said.

Despite the brouhaha, Chief Bent said he was pleased by how people responded because the food program does so much good work.

"It could have been a lot worse," he said, adding that he wasn't aware of any other serious crime happening in town.